Bezos-Backed Slate Auto Targets the $25,000 Truck Market Detroit Abandoned

Jeff Bezos is backing Slate Auto, a Michigan EV startup building a two-seat electric pickup priced at $25,000—significantly cheaper than Ford's F-150 Lightning or Tesla's Cybertruck. Production near Indianapolis could start late 2026. The company plans accessories and apparel to boost margins. Major automakers have largely skipped the sub-$30,000 truck segment, leaving room for startups willing to operate on thinner profits.